CHAPTER XVII

MR. JASPER JARMAN RELIEVES HIS MIND

There was silence for a few moments. Edward Povey nervously poked little holes in the gravel path with the ferrule of his walking-stick.

"Don't you think, uncle, that we had better discuss the situation without personalities—or rudeness?"

Mr. Jasper Jarman's answer was a grunt.

"You see, uncle, I feel that I owe you some sort of apology, or at any rate an explanation. I read what they said in the papers about you. I laughed for ten minutes."

"You did, eh! Well, I read the same as you did, and I didn't laugh for ten seconds."

"But I didn't take it seriously. I thought you would explain easily."

"Yes, and be convicted as an accessory—as one of the gang."